MARY-ANN WATSKO (HUIZINGA)

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MARY-ANN WATSKO (nee HUIZINGA) Suddenly, March 11, 2006 while travelling, at the age of 64. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend: a life we have known, met and loved. Mary was born in Netherlands during the Second World War, the second child of, Anny and Hubert Huizinga. She was followed by a sister and brother: a close family of four brothers and sisters. Mary grew up in Holland enjoying life as a child, until the family moved to Canada in 1953, where they lived in the north end of Winnipeg. She went to Norquay Elementary School, then Aberdeen School. Mary and family returned to Holland, only to discover that they really loved their new home in Canada, and returned a year later. While Mary was living with her Mom and Dad in the north of Winnipeg, she made the acquaintance of the neighbours, Helen and Walter, who had a nephew Mary would come to once again meet many years later, a young man named Paul. Mary grew up and turned her eyes to working, spending some time in Ottawa with family friends. Coming back to Winnipeg, the family had moved to East Elmwood, and coincidently, next door to the same neighbours that had then met several years earlier. A bit older now, Mary rekindled her interest in Paul, who had been back to Winnipeg from time to time, having helped to build parts of the Alaska Highway. Mary and Paul were married in the summer of 1963. They moved to their own home on Kent Road, making new friends and the following year, having their daughter, April. Living life, bringing up family, and entertaining friends and relatives, (many from Hazel Ridge), both on Paul's and of course her side of this large family, saw Mary's family mature. Family feasts were looked forward to with great anticipation and were appreciated by all who were fortunate to attend. Mary anchored the home front and brought a strong sense of organization to family life knowing when exactly to pick the tomatoes, how to season the home grown cucumbers and exactly how best to keep a steady flow of pyrogies and holopchi flooding forth. She was meticulous in keeping all things family in keen focus. Paul saw Mary as a partner in his business. She kept the company books, balanced to the cent. April, her only daughter, also grew over these years, and married a man not unsimilar to her Dad. Marc and April blessed Mary with the rewards of motherhood: grandchildren; and there were two: Celia and Marcel, who Mary doted on for these past 17 years. As the children become more independent, Mary and Paul discovered that travelling could happen as easily as cross border shopping, discovering South Dakota and Minnesota as weekend escapes. It was Mary's fun to beat the one armed bandits at the Shooting Star Casino, usually with their own get one free coupon. She loved having her family to visit, to cook and tend to her devoted husband, and to be Mom and Gramma to Celia and Marcel. She loved her brothers and sister, and equally Paul's family. Unfortunately, happiness is often edged by sadness, losing her mother Anne some 15 years ago, and many dear friends, and family over these past five years, losses which have left her family a little smaller. Yet, she continued to reach out to ensure there would be room for all in her world. Last week, in pursuit of her fun, with her roll of American nickels in hand to once more beat the one armed bandits , Mary succumbed to an unexpected call for her services in a different place. She left us Saturday, at 5:30 in the morning, having struggled hard under the attentive care of Dr. Burdine at the Merit Care Hospital in Fargo, for several days, to offer enough time for Paul, April, Celia and Marc and her grandchildren to say their last goodbyes. She will be missed by all, especially her immediate family, Paul, April and Marc, Celia and Marcel; her Dad, Hubert; her brothers, John and Gilles and sister Sylvia, dozens of nieces and nephews, and many friends, having brought her unique life for us each to share. Thank you, Mary. Mary's life and passing will be celebrated at Glen Eden Chapel in West St. Paul, Wednesday, March 15, at 2:00 p.m. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, a donation to the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN EDEN FUNERAL HOME 4477 Main Street 338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 14, 2006